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Don’t demonise African traditions, religion
Kwame Akoto Bamfo
A Ghanaian Sculptor and Cultural Activist, Kwame Akoto Bamfo has urged Black people to stop demonising African traditions and religions.
“We must rather striveto encourage tolerance to foster development,” he said.
In a presentation to climax the Black History Month celebrations by the U.S Embassy in Accra which ended in February this year, he said, there was a lot in black people and Africans, hence the need to be tolerant with one another and undemonise African tradition and religion.
His presentation was themed, “Through the Eyes and Hands of the Mounted Abstract: A look at the ‘Image’ of African Traditional Religion and Arts during and after the Trans-Atlantic Trade.”
According to him, “We need to learn to see our own through our own lenses. Let’s be tolerant with each other, engage with traditionalists and find out the truth,” he stated.
Kwame Bamfo said it was wrong for people to be called demon because of the beliefs and practices as that could cause disturbances in the country.
“Let us give ourselves time to see the benefits of religious tolerance and desist from discriminating against our own people,” he stated.
“We must respect each other’s culture and most importantly not look down on our own and stop the unnecessary friction. We need to start questioning anything that would let us not accept another African and make one feel less of a person,” he said.
He added that, Africans can be better and provide adequate services without getting educated through the European system.
“We have reduced craftsmanship and excellence to education and everything we do have to be filtered through European eye and language,” he stated.
“We need to demystify knowledge and intelligence which is not measured by how best you can speak English but rather a matter of problem solving,” he added.
“If we uphold our language and traditional systems, we would be better as a people. We could have access to intelligent craftsmen and pay less for it. We are currently misusing our human resources,” he stressed.
He said, there were very intelligent individuals who could not survive since they could not afford education or the educational system was not favourable to them.
“It is about time, the educated class or elites give way to traditional language and belief systems for our own good,” he stated.
The event brought together students from the Pentecost University College, Achimota Senior High School, Accra Girls Senior High School, Oreilly Secondary School, UNIMAC-NAFTI and Holy Trinity Cathedral Senior High School.
The Black History Month is marked every February to honour the contributions of African- Americans who have shaped the history, culture, character and diversity of the United States of America (USA).
By Michael D. Abayateye
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
